Pneumonia is an infection of the pulmonary alveoli, which are a tissue of the lung in the form of sacs. These, instead of filling with air and thus performing the function of breathing, fill with pus or fluid and, thus, pneumonia occurs.
What is the main cause of pneumonia?
The cause of this infection originates from the fact that this tissue is invaded by infectious germs. Usually these germs are viruses or bacteria, although it could also be fungi.
Most patients with pneumonia are patients in whom these germs take advantage of a moment of weakness in their immune system and occupy the pulmonary alveoli and reproduce there.
Normally, they are healthy people, but the immune system may have some small failure and the germs take advantage of it. It may happen that some people have a permanent defect in their immune system and this may favor the repetition of important infections, such as pneumonias.
What happens when a person suffers more than 2 pneumonias?
If a person suffers 2 or more pneumonias it would be necessary that, on the part of his doctor, a study of his immune system is carried out to rule out that there is not a permanent failure in a part of his defensive system that favors infections. This is what we call immunodeficiency.
How to prevent pneumonia
There is more and more evidence that vitamins are involved in the immune system, for this reason the fact of having a balanced diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, etc.) is very important on a daily basis. This way we incorporate the necessary vitamins to keep us healthy.